Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

Arjuna Award for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, officially called Arjuna Award is the second highest sports honour in India after Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Constituted in the year 1961, the award comprises a bronze statue of Arjuna (a character from the epic Mahabharata), a certificate, a ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh (US$20,000 - as of 2020). Sonam Gyatso (1923–1968): Sonam Gyatso claimed fame when at the age of 42 became the second Indian to summit Mt Everest on May 22, 1965. He was then the oldest person to reach the top and spend more than 50 minutes the longest time at the peak. Recipient of Padma Shri (1962), Padma Bhushan (1965) and Arjuna Award (1965), Gyatso was the founder and Principal of Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute at Rathong, Sikkim. He is the only person from Sikkim to get featured in an Indian Postage stamp. Jaslal Pradhan (born 24 April 1957):   Jaslal Pradhan, a boxing legend from Sikkim was an Arjuna Awardee in 1983....

pics by Sanjay Agarwal and Feeroz Lohagun

  Additional information and pic: TOI Archery Association of India had never thought that the man they replaced him at the team event due to poor performance would provide India the first silver in the history of men's individual archery in Asian Games. Tarundeep Rai was replaced with his teammates Mangal Singh Champia for  the team event that went on to win the bronze medal in Guangzhou. Against the expectation Tarundeep Rai created history after he became the first Indian archer to win silver in the men's individual archery event. In a closely fought contest, the Indian archer lost to the world no. 1 Woojin Kim of South Korea 28-28, 27-28, 29-28, 27-28, 27-29.

With a high expectation to watch a  lone Sikkimese sportsperson among the medal winners, the people of Sikkim was thrilled to hear that their Tarundeep Rai has bagged a bronze team recurve event at the 19th Commonwealth Games. The trio of Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai and Javanta Taludkar defeated the British archers on the bronze medal play-off.  Bronze medallists (L-R) Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai and Javanta Taludkar of India pose for photographers after the Men's Team Recurve event at Yamuna Sports Complex during day five of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 8, 2010 in Delhi, India. Pic: indiatimes Bronze medallists Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai and Javanta Taludkar during the Men's Team Recurve event at the 19th Commonwealth Games. Courtesy: IANS

1. DANNY DEZONGPA 2. BHAICHUNG BHUTIA 3. TARUNDEEP RAI 4. JAS LAL PRADHAN 5. SONAM GYATSO 6.UTTAM PRADHAN